When it was confirmed that Striking Distance Studios, the young company formed by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield, would announce a new game at The Game Awards 2020, many were hoping for a new, modern Dead Space. And while the new game may not be Dead Space, it might as well be. Introducing The Callisto Protocol, Striking Distance Studios' in-development sci-fi horror game. Expect The Callisto Protocol on PC and consoles in 2022.
The Callisto Protocol was announced with a cinematic trailer about a quarter of the way through The Game Awards 2020. The two-minute trailer starts in what appears to be a prison of some kind. A prisoner is awoken by a strange banging, as well as a holographic message from the warden asking for all personnel to report to the main security block. The prisoner notices a security robot outside his cell malfunctioning, only for a monstrous creature that may be his cellmate to come up and attack him from behind.
The setting of The Callisto Protocol trailer is a transport ship named Charon, and as the trailer ends, it shows the Charon arriving at its destination, a location named Black Iron. The cinematic trailer shows a somewhat desolate planet or moon with what could be a prison colony located on it. Clearly, the Charon is bringing something nightmarish with it to Black Iron, whatever it is. And given the nonchalant way the AI approved the ship's landing, things are only going to get worse.
Schofield followed up the trailer's showing during The Game Awards 2020 with a message on Twitter. He says that the team at Striking Distance Studios hopes to "make the most terrifying game of all time." If anyone can deliver on that promise, it's the creator of Dead Space. Expect to hear more information about The Callisto Protocol in the months to come.
One thing that didn't get mentioned is Striking Distance's other in-development game, if it hasn't been canceled. Striking Distance has been tied to a PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds spin-off game that's supposed to be more focused on narrative storytelling. It'll be interesting to hear if that's still being worked on or if Striking Distance is now fully focused on The Callisto Protocol. Needless to say, if it's still in development, then excitement for it is going to reach new heights.
While The Callisto Protocol may not be PUBG related, that doesn't mean there are zero ties between the two games. Specifically, Striking Distance was founded by Krafton and The Callisto Protocol is being published by Krafton. Krafton is also the parent company of PUBG Studio, so the two are connected to a degree. That's likely where the ties end, however. The Callisto Protocol will stand on its own.
The Callisto Project releases in 2022 for the PC and consoles.